Hinge joint for dental articulator



April 6, 1965 A. J. DE PIETRO 3, 76,

HINGE JOINT FOR DENTAL ARTICULATOR Filed March 30, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet. l

FIG. I. F|G.4.

1&2.

INVENTOR. ANTHQNY J. DE PIETRO BY M )8 *4 M ATTO R N EYS April 6, 1965 A. J. DE PIETRO HINGE JOINT FOR DENTAL ARTICULATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 30, 1961 FIG. 6.

FIG. 5.

0 m mm EP m u Y G N .l O F H T N A m a 2 H,

2 J I U m m BY W BMW 4 H 4 ATTO R NEYS the accompanying drawings, in which:

United States Patent The present invention relates generally to dental articulators, and particularly to an improved form of hinge joint for the dental articulator disclosed in my copending application for United States Letters Patent Serial No.

856,425, filed December 1, 1959, now Patent No. 3,019,- 530.

It is conventional to provide dental articulators with a pair of hinge joints each having a hinge part that is adjustable about a principal axis and also laterally of the instrument, but known hinge parts suffer the disadvantage that after either of the adjustments aforesaid is effected,

the other cannot be made without exposure to the danger of disturbing the first. Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a dental articulator having hinge parts of the adjustable type aforesaid with locking means operable for effecting either of said adjustments after the other adjustment is effected, without exposure to the danger of disturbing the adjustment first made.

Another object is to provide a dental articulator having hinge parts that are universally adjustable and also laterally adjustable transversely of the instrument with locking means operable for effecting any possible adjust- :ment after any one or more of the other possible adjust- -n1ents are effected, without exposure to the danger of disturbing the adjustment or adjustments first made.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent when the following description is read with reference to FIGURE 1-is a side view of a hinge joint embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a-front view of the joint shown in FIG- URE 1, as indicated by line 2-2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a rear view of the hinge joint, as indicated by line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 or FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged section on line 55 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a section on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5; FIGURE 7 is a section on line 7-7 of FIGURE 1; and

7 FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal section similar to FIGURE 5, but showing a modified form of the hinge joint.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 1 to 7, my improved hinge joint for dental articulators comprises an upper hinge'part generally designated 10 seated upon a lower hinge part generally designated 11. The lower hinge part 11 is provided with a neck 12 terminating in a spherical "element 14.

The hinge part 10 comprises a condylar guide in the disc 16 is undercut to form a downwardly facing curvilinear condylar guide surface having a posterior portion 30 which is concave downwardly, an anterior portion 32 which is concave downwardly and a connecting 'portion34 which is convex downwardly and smoothly merged with portions 30. and 32. The undercut also forms, on the inner side of the disc 16, an upright abutment 35 having an outwardly facing abutment surface 36.

, On the outer side of the disc 16 is a recess extending along the arcuate edge 18 and having an upwardly facing arcuate surface' 38 and an upright outwardly facing surface 40. The upright surface 40 is provided with an arcuate groove 42.

Embracing the disc 16 is a yoke part of inverted U- shape, generally designated 44. The yoke part is provided on the outer side of the hinge joint with a short leg 46 and on the inner side of the hinge joint with a long leg 48, these legs being connected by a portion 50. The upper periphery of the yoke part is arcuate, as at 52, and is provided with a pair of opposite side flanges 54 and 56. On the rear side of the hinge joint the yoke part is provided with an arcuate rib 58 radially spaced inwardly from the fiange 56 to form between the flange 56 and the rib 58 an arcuate groove 60.

A pin 62 is threaded into the leg 48 of the yoke part and the end thereof is received by a depression 68 formed in the disc 16. Another pin 70 is threaded into the short leg 46 of the yoke part and the end thereof is received by the groove 42 in the disc 16. Also threaded into the long leg 48 of the yoke part is a lock screw 72 having a knurled head 74 and engaging the disc 16.

Overlying the yoke part 44 is a second yoke part, generally designated 76, provided with a cylindrical body 78 from which a hollow stem 80 extends upwardly. At the juncture of the body 78 and stem 80 is a circumferentially extending shoulder 82. The hollow interior of the stem 80, designated 84, communicates with an underlying arcuate recess 86 which is T-shaped in transverse section. On one side of the recess 86 the cylindrical body 78 is provided with an arcuate undersurface 90. The arcuate opposite side of the recess 86 the cylindrical body 78 is provided with an arcuate undersurface 90. The arcuate upper peripheral portion of the yoke part 44 is slidably fitted into the recess 86, as shown.

The stem 8-0 of the yoke part 76 extends through a sleeve 92 which is provided with a radially outwardly extending flange 94 at the lower end thereof. Diametrically opposite side surfaces of the sleeve 92 are flat, as at $6, and the sleeve 92 extends upwardly freely through an elongated opening 88 formed in a wing of the upper bow member 102 of the instrument.

Fitted over the sleeve 92 is a flat washer 104 and a coil compression spring 106. Threaded uponithe upper end of the sleeve 92 is a lock nut 108 provided with a hollow cylindrical apron 110 housing the spring 106 and seated upon the washer 104. Threaded upon the upper end of the stem 80 is a lock nut 112 which engages with the upper end of the sleeve 92. A lock screw 114 extends freely through the major portion of the stem 80 and is threaded into the lower end portion of the stem 80 for engagement with the arcuate surface 52 of the yoke part 44. i

The axis of the pin 62 and that of the lock screw 114 intersect at the center of the spherical element 14, and the center of curvature of the arcuately shaped'recess 86 in the yoke part 76 and of the arcuately shaped peripheral portion of the yoke part 44 slidably fittedin the recess 86 is at the center ofthe spherical element 14.

As described and shown, no element of the upper hinge part 10is movable relative to the upper bow member 102. In other words, the upper hinge part 10'is effectively locked in position. The disc 16 overlies the spherical element 14 with the abutment surface'36 engaging the inner side of the spherical element 14 and with the spherical element 14 nested in the concave portion 1300f the condylar guide surface.

The lock screw 72 engages the disc 16 and presses it against the short leg 46 of the yoke part 44, in consequence of which the disc 16 is frictionally secured or locked against movement relative to the yoke part 44. The lock screw 114 engages the yoke part 44 and urges it downwardly relative to the yoke part 76, in consequence of which the yoke part 44 is frictionally secured or locked fluenceof the. coil spring106.

, tilted downwardly and rearwardly.

' Nowthe; lock screw "114 is loosened and and yokepart 44 are ftilted laterallyiof the instrument as p a 'unit to'the desired position, the :movement being, of

course, about the centerof the spherical element 14. Suit- 'able:m'arkings,- indicated-at 122, are provided to" aid in 1, making the adjustment. With the disc 16 and yoke part the condylar guide surface;- h r g 'Now referring to FIGURE s, in the modifiedjform er thehinge joint the sarn'enunierals are fused to indicate ele- 7 against-movement relative to the yoke part 76. The lock nut 112 draws the shoulder 82 f yoke'part 76 upwardly member because its flat diametrically opposite'surfaces v '96 fit snugly between opposite sides ofthe elongated ope'ning98. The lock nut 108drawsthe: flange 94'of sleeve 92. upwardly against the bottom ofthewing 100 of the bow member102, in consequenceof which the sleeve 92 is'secured'or locked" against movement longitudinally of v 'the elongated opening '98.

In order'to suitably adjust the instrument andefiective ly lock it in adjusted'position, the lower hinge part .11, is.

' moved to the desired.positionlaterally, of the instrument.

Then-the nut 108' is loosened, whereupon thespr'ing 1%6 acts to secure the sleeve 92 against movingaxially downwardlyrelativeto the bowfmember 102. The hinge part is moved as a unit laterally of the instrument tobring lthe abutment surface 36*0f the disc 16"into engagement -'with the inner's'ideof the spherical eleme'nt14. Toaicl V in positioning the hinge part 10'1aterall'y of the instrument -a suitable scale .116 .is inscribedon the back of 'the' wingg,

100 and an' index mark 118 is inscribed onthe flange .94

"ofthe sleeve 92,. With the'hinge part 10 in the adjusted 1 position, the locknut 108 is retightened against the in Now the lock screw 72 is, loosened and th arse 16 44 in the desired tilted position, the lock screw 114 is retightencdg "In FIGURE 2,'n1e disc 16 and yoke part 44 are shown" in phantom tilted laterally inwardly, Q and in FIGURES they are-shown in phanton tilted laterally outwardlyr' Now the. lock nut 112 loosened andithe' yoke" part 76 is turned in sleeve. 92 to'the desired position. i The f yoke part 44' and the disc 16 turn with 'thejyoke' pa rt. 76

as a unit. Suitable means, indicated at 124,are provided With thefyoke part- 76 in to aidwith this adjustment. the adjusted position, the lock nut 112 is retightened. 'In

' FIGURE 7, the yoke parts 44 and'76iare shown in 'phan tom turned about the. axis ofthe hinge part 10. H I It is to-be noted'that the hinge part .10 maybe ung previously made. adjustment. 'In other words, "when one of the locking elements is loosened, only one adjustment .is possible." Each adjustment ently of the others. 1 When the, instrument shifted relative to one another fore and aft and laterally wtih the inner side of the sphericalelement 14 always engaged withtheabutment surface 360i the disc 16 and with v the topof the spherical; element 14 always engaged with ments that are identicalfwith corresponding elements of the embodimentlofi 1 to'ZfTI-he hingejoint comprises the hinge part '11, underlying "a hinge 'part'210.

v the disc' 16 is tilted' about the .pin 62 fore and aft to the desired position, the disc being guided by pin 70 working in" groove ,42.

Suitable means, indicated at;120, are provided to-aidin adjusting the disc 16. 7 With the disc 16 in the adjusted position, the screw 72 is'retightened; In FIGURE 1,- the 1 disc. 16 shown in "phantom tilted ,downwardlypand forv, wardly, and in FIGUREA the disc is shownin phantom made entirely ind'ependis properly. adjusted, the upper; andlower bow membersmay. be opened and closed and i The hinge part 210 comprisesthe disc 16 and a one-piece yoke 212. The yoke'includes a cylindrical body 214 from which there extends upwardlya stem 216 having a hollow interior. At the juncture of the stem 216 and the 1, cylindrical body214 .is 'a circumferentially extending threadedthrough the long leg 224. The pin 70 is threaded through'thegshort leg 222 and se-rves'to guide the disc 16. The screw 72 is threaded through the long leg 224 andzengages the disc 16.1'The stem 216 of -the yoke 1 extends through the sleeve 92, which projects upwardly freelyt-hr-ough the slot,98 in; the W-ing 100 of the bow member 102. Fitted over the sleeve 9 2'are'the washer 164and the coil spring 106'. .Threaded upon the sleeve 92 is the lock nut 108, 'and'threaded upon the stem 216 is a lo'ckxnut112. Ext-en'din'gifreely into the stem 216 is the lock screw 114 threaded into the lower end portion 1 of the stem 216, and bearing upon the disc-16.,

' Disc '16, overlies. the sphericalelement 14 and its abutmentsu'rface 36 engages the inner side of the. spherical 5 elen'rentrlkthe spherical element being nested in the concave portionof the condylar guideysurface. Lock-screws 72 and 114 engage disc' 16 and secure or look the .sameagainst movement relative .to the yoke I212. ".Thelock nut-112 draws shoulder 218 of yoke 212 b upwardly against the flange'94'of the sleeve 92, in consequence ofrwhich theyoke 212 is secured or locked'against movement -relative to the sleeve 92. As already describedin connection with the embodimentof FIGURES 1 to 7, the sleeve 92 is incapable of turning about its axis relative. 'tor'the upper bowmember, and-the lock nut l l08 secures' or looks the sleeve 92 against movement longitudinally of v the slot 98.

' For adjusting the instrument, the lower hinge part 1-1 is moved to the desired position laterally, of the instru- 0 ment. Now the: lock nut '10 8'is loosened and the hinge '2 Lt-he. lock nut 108;-is' retightened. Next the "screws 72 and 5 "114 are -lo osenedand the disc'16 is tilted lore and aft to. theidesired 'positi on,;whereupon the screws 72 and 1 14 are'retightened. The pin 70 workingin the groove 42 guides fthe .discf'16. 'Finally, the-lock nut 112 is loosened and thejyoke 212 turned in sleeve 92 ,to the desired positiont Y .Of course, the yokercarries with it {the .disc 16. NOW thelOcjk nut, is retightened,

Infview of the detailed deseriptionotthe construction and operation of theembodiment of FIGURES 1 to ;7 given hereinbeforegaimom detailed description of the {constructionand operation of the embodiment of FIG- :UREQ8' is deemed unnecessarylforv a .full understanding of the ihventiom I 4 vention is susceptibleof various modifications which may be made without departing from the generalprinciples of the invention. -Accordingly,- it is intended to claim the same broadly asivvell asspeeifically, as indicated by ,1 the appendedt elaims Q What iscIaimedis: q I Y 1. In a dental articulatona lower bow'jmember, an upper bow member, and 'meansformounting said upper bow member'upon saidflower bow member" including a 7 pair of laterally spaced hinge-type joints, each of said hinge-typejointsl including a hinge part carried by said .7 lower bow. member, andja hmge' part carried by said upper f bow member includiigtg a sleeve mounted upon said, uppe-r bow member for lateral; shi fting movement,

It. will'be understood, course, thatfthe present in- {,rneans securi1ig: said sleeve against turning 'movement Zab out itslongitudinal axis, means releasably clamping said 7 sleeve to said upper bow-imember -ther'eby tosecure said i sleeve against shifting and tipping movement, said clamping means being independent of the first mentioned means securing said sleeve against turning movement, a yoke extending into and turnably received by said sleeve, means releasably clamping said yoke to said sleeve thereby to secure said yoke against turning in said sleeve, an element carried by said yoke and having an undersurface which bears upon the first mentioned hinge part, said .element being mounted for tilting movement with said undersurface in contact with the first mentioned hinge part, and means releasably securing said element against tilting movement.

2. In a dental articulator, a lower bow member, an upper bow member, and means for mounting said upper bow member upon said lower bow member including a pair of laterally spaced hinge-type joints, each of said hinge-type joints including a hinge part carried by said lower bow member, and a hinge part carried by said upper bow member including a sleeve extending through and mounted upon said upper bow member for lateral shifting movement, means securing said sleeve against turning movement about its longitudinal axis, means releasably clamping said sleeve to said upper bow member thereby to secure said sleeve against shifting and tipping 'movement including means on said sleeve abutting the undersurface of said upper bow member, and a locking element on said sleeve drawing said abutting means tight against the undersurface of said upper bow member, said clamping means being independent of the first mentioned means securing said sleeve against turning movement, a yoke extending into and turnably received by said sleeve, means releasably clamping said yoke to said sleeve thereby to secure said yoke against turning in said sleeve, an

element carried by said yoke and having an undersurface which bears upon the first mentioned hinge part, said element being mounted for tilting movement with said undersurface in contact with the first mentioned hinge part, and means releasably securing said element against tilting movement.

'3. In a dental articulator, a lower bow member, an upper bow member, and means for mounting said upper bow member upon said lower bow member including a pair of laterally spaced hinge-type joints, each of said hinge-type joints including a hinge part carried by said lower bow member, and a hinge part carried by said upper bow member including a sleeve projected freely through an elongated opening extending transversely of said upper bow member and mounted upon said upper bow member for movement longitudinally of said opening, means securing said sleeve against turning movement, means releasably clamping said sleeve to said upper bow member thereby to secure said sleeve against shifting and tipping movement including a flange on said sleeve abutting the undersurface of said upper bow member, and a lock nut threaded on said sleeve and drawing said flange tight against the undersurface of said upper bow member, said clamping means being independent of said means securing the sleeve against turni-ng movement, a yoke extending into and turnably received by said sleeve, means releasably clamping said yoke to said sleeve thereby to secure said yoke against turning in said sleeve, an element carried by said yoke and having an undersurface which bears upon the first mentioned hinge part, said element being mounted for tilting movement with said undersurface in contact with the first mentioned hinge part, and means releasably securing said element against tilting movement.

4. In a dental articulator, a lower bow member, an upper bow member, and means for mounting said upper bow member upon said lower bow member including a pair of laterally spaced hinge-type joints, each of said hinge-type joints including a hinge part carried by said lower bow member, and a hinge part carried by said upper bow member including a sleeve mounted upon said upper bow member for lateral shifting movement,

means securing said sleeve against turning movement about its longitudinal axis, means releasably clamping said sleeve to said upper bow member thereby to secure said sleeve against shifting and tipping movement, said clamping means being independent of the first mentioned means securing said sleeve against turning movement, a yoke extending into and turnably received by said sleeve, means releasably clamping said yoke to said sleeve thereby to secure said yoke against turning in said sleeve including means on said yoke abutting a lower end portion of said sleeve, and a locking element on said yoke drawing said abutting means tight against said lower end portion of the sleeve, an elementcarried by said yoke and having an undersurface which bears upon the first mentioned hinge part, the last mentioned element being mounted for tilting movement with said undersurface in contact with the first mentioned hinge part, and means releasably securing said last mentioned element against tilting movement.

5. In a dental articulator, a lower bow member, an upper bow member, and means for mounting said upper bow member upon said lower bow member including a pair of laterally spaced hinge-type joints, each of said hinge-type joints including a hinge part carried by said lower bow member, and a hinge part carried by said upper bow member including a sleeve mounted upon said upper bow member for lateral shifting movement, means securing said sleeve against turning movement about its longitudinal axis, means releasably clamping said sleeve to said upper bow member thereby to secure said sleeve against shifting and tipping movement, said clamping means being independent of the first mentioned means securing said sleeve against turning movement, a yoke including a section having a stem extending into and t-urna'bly received by said sleeve, and a section mounted upon said turnable yoke section for tilting movement laterally of said articulator, means releasably clamping said turnable yoke section to said sleeve thereby to secure the same against turning in said sleeve, means releasably securing said tiltable yoke section against movement relative to said turnable yoke section, an element carried by said tiltable yoke section and havlng an undersurface which bears upon the first mentioned hinge part, said element being mounted for tilting movement fore and aft with said undersurface in contact with the first mentioned hinge part, and means releasably securing said element against movement relative to said tiltable yoke section.

6. In a dental articulator, a lower bow member, an upper bow member, and means for mounting said upper bow member upon said lower bow member including a pair of laterally spaced hinge-type joints, each of said hinge-type joints including a hinge part in the form of a spherical element carried by said lower bow member, and a hinge part carried by said upper bow member includmg a sleeve mounted upon said upper bow member for lateral shifting movement, means securing said sleeve against turning movement about its longitudinal axis, means releasably clamping said sleeve to said upper bow member thereby to secure said sleeve against shifting and tlpping movement, said clamping means being inde pendent of the first mentioned means securing said sleeve against turning movement, a yoke including a section having a tubular stem extending into and turnably received by said sleeve, the longitudinal axis of said stem extending through the center of said spherical element, and a section slidably fitted into said turnable yoke section for tilting movement laterally of said articulator about an axis extending through the center of said spherical element, means releasably clamping said turnable yoke section to said sleeve thereby to secure the same against turning in said sleeve, means extending through said stem and engaging said tiltable yoke section to releasably secure the same against movement relative to said turnable yoke section, an element carried bysaid tiltable 'yokesection and having an undersurface which movement fore' and aft of said articulator about' an' axis extending through the ce nter of said' spherical elernent 7 bears upon said sphericall element, theiel 'ement'carried by said tiltable yoke sctionubeing mounted for tilting and with said undersurfacein contact with said spherical element, and means releasably securingthe element Car ried by said tiltabl e yoke section against movement r ela- I tive to said tlitable yoke section.

7. In a dental articulator, a

spherical element carried by said lower 'bow member,

member thereby to. secure said sleeve againstshifting and tipping v-movernent, said clamping means being in dependent of the first mentioned means securing said sleeve against turning movement,j a one-piece yoke'jh'aving a sterneXtending into andturnably received by said lower bow Qrnember', an upperbowmember, and means for mounting said'upper I bow member upon said lower bow member including; a I pair of laterally spaced hinge-type joints; each of said 'hinge-type joints'including a hinge p'ar't'in theforrn of a sleeve, the longitudinal axis of said] stem extending through the center of said spherical element, means releasab'ly clamping said yoke to said sleeve thereby to secure'thesame against turning-in'said sleeve, an element carried, by said ,yoke' and having; an undersurface en- 7 gaging saidspherical element, the element carriedby said yoke being'mounted for. titlting movementfore and aft of said articulator about'anaxis extending ithrough'the center of said spherical element and with said mndersurfacein cont'act with said spherical element, and means releasably securing the element carried by said yoke against; movement relative to said yoke. v

References; Cited by the Examiner I,

I j; 'TQUYNITED STATES PATENTS ,9 797.. 1 n -----.----v- 32-32 2,5 5,14 1 /50 LyOl'lS'. 32-32 2,797,483; 7/57 Lisowski -32, 32 2,816,360 12/57 Stuart 32-42 1 [596,232 g/47 GreafBritain.

'GA D'ET, fr'im ry Examiner; RICHARD "J. HOFFMAN, Ex m ner.

9/6 2 Spence 32 -32 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF QO'BECTION Patent No 5,176,400

Anthony J. De Pietro It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 29, for "90. The arcuate" read 88, and on the a Signed and sealed this 22nd day of February 1966.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents April 6, 1965 'EDWARDJ. BRENNER 

1. IN A DENTAL ARTICULATOR, A LOWER BOW MEMBER, AN UPPER BOW MEMBER, AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID UPPER BOW MEMBER UPON SAID LOWER BOW MEMBER INCLUDING A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED HINGE-TYPE JOINTS, EACH OF SAID HINGE-TYPE JOINTS INCLUDING A HINGE PART CARRIED BY SAID LOWER BOW MEMBER, AND A HINGE PART CARRIED BY SAID UPPER BOW MEMBER INCLUDING A SLEEVE MOUNTED UPON SAID UPPER BOW MEMBER FOR LATERAL SHIFTING MOVEMENT, MEANS SECURING SAID SLEEVE AGAINST TURNING MOVEMENT ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS, MEANS RELEASABLY CLAMPING SAID SLEEVE TO SAID UPPER BOW MEMBER THEREBY TO SECURE SAID SLEEVE AGAINST SHIFTING AND TIPPING MOVEMENT, SAID CLAMPING MEANS BEING INDEPENDENT OF THE FIRST MENTIONED MEANS SECURING SAID SLEEVE AGAINST TURNING MOVEMENT, A YOKE EXTENDING INTO AND TURNABLY RECEIVED BY SAID SLEEVE, MEANS RELEASABLY CLAMPING SAID YOKE TO SAID SLEEVE THEREBY TO SECURE SAID YOKE AGAINST TURNING IN SAID SLEEVE, AN ELEMENT CARRIED BY SAID YOKE AND HAVING AN UNDERSURFACE 